I’m not even kidding when I call this the World’s BEST Hot Chocolate Recipe. It is everything hot cocoa should be; Creamy, rich with a great flavor. This homemade hot chocolate is the essence of coming home from a cold day.
How I created this Hot Chocolate Recipe
Today it rained, it was MARVELOUS (As a born and raised Oregonian I LOVE the rain)! The leaves have all changed colors and there was a beautiful mist over the mountains.
I love fall. I don’t like being too hot or too cold, I’m not a huge fan of snow… BUT if it means I get to make this hot chocolate then I’ll take it.
I love chocolate, in pretty much every form. Bars, cookies, cake, ice cream and liquid!
When we were living in Japan I missed my favorite foods that they don’t have over there. That’s how I got into from scratch cooking – learning to make food that I couldn’t get overseas.
So when I was missing hot chocolate I started trying various recipes, mixing and matching until I was happy with the results.
Now I do not like watery hot chocolate. So I knew it needed to be made with milk. And I already had my Hot Fudge recipe that I loved so I used my understanding about blooming Cocoa to my advantage as I created the final recipe.
Now I make a double batch every week and enjoy a cup on cold mornings. I like to add my Homemade Marshmallows of course – they have this great creamy effect as they melt.
I also tweak this same recipe for my Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe. You can also serve it with fresh whipped cream or my homemade marshmallow fluff or my marshmallow frosting! What do you like with your hot chocolate?
Just take me to the Hot Cocoa Recipe already!
If you’d rather skip my tips and tricks for homemade hot chocolate, along with links to other winter recipes and get straight to this delicious drink – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
Tips to Make the Perfect Hot Chocolate
By boiling the cocoa and water at the beginning your actually Blooming the cocoa. This breaks up clumps, thickens the liquid and most important releases flavor particles in the powder and results in a much richer flavor.
This is the reason most chocolate cakes add boiling water to the mixture and why I dissolve my cocoa in boiling water and let it sit for a few mins in my chocolate cake recipe.
Once the cocoa has bloomed and the full flavor has been released now you want to add the rest of your liquid and bring it up to heat. I use whole milk – for me hot chocolate should always be made with milk, not water.
You don’t need to, and shouldn’t, bring it back to a boil. Now you just heat it to the temperature you like to drink your cocoa at. Once it’s up to tempurature add the vanilla.
The vanilla is essential for enhancing the flavor and I can always tell if I accidentally forgot it when I taste it. You don’t want to add it early as the boiling and heating process would actually make most of the vanilla evaporate so it should be the last thing you add before serving.
I refrigerate any left overs – but the chocolate and milk does separate after a while so make sure to shake it up or stir it really good before reserving!
The World’s BEST Hot Chocolate
If you love this homemade hot chocolate as much as I do, I’d love a 5 star review. Be sure to share on social media and tag me if you make it @ashleemariecakes! If you want to stay updated on new recipes sign up for my newsletter and join my Facebook Group!
If you love Hot Chocolate you’ll love these other winter drink recipes!
Warm Pumpkin Pie Drink | Hot Butterbeer | Homemade Eggnog
And these other decadent chocolate treats
Chocolate Cake | Chocolate Cheesecake | Chocolate Lava Cake
Connect with Ashlee Marie Online!
To watch me make this Hot Chocolate along with 2 other fall drinks play the video in the recipe card (if you’re on desktop, a short teaser video should be auto playing for you).
You can find all my cooking show style recipe videos on YouTube, or my short recipe videos on Facebook Watch, or my Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
The worlds BEST Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 C granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 C water
- 4 C whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- In a saucepan mix the dry ingredients.
- Add the water and bring to a boil, keep boiling for one min.
- Then add the milk.
- Heat until it’s the temp you like.
- Take off the heat and add the vanilla, stir and serve
Gemma
Oh. My. Goodness. You’re right, this is the best hot chocolate ever! I added a couple of drops of peppermint oil to my cup and it was AMAZING! Adding to the family recipe book for sure.
Ashlee
Mmmmm I like amaretto syrup too (like the kind you use in italian sodas) but peppermint is def a classic this time of year!
Armando
This recipe its amazing for people who are Chocoholics its a heavenly gift!!!!
Ashlee
amen – I’m all about creamy (not watery) chocolate in all forms!
Maggie
This is definitely a recipe worth saving!! The girl I babysit wanted hot chocolate, but we couldn’t find the mix, so I’m so lucky I was able to find this recipe!! This is a lifesaver, and it’s so quick and easy! She loves it!
Ashlee
I’m so glad you liked it and that it worked out in a pinch! sounds like your a great babysitter!
Jeannine
My mom used to make us hot chocolate with our breakfast before school. Eggs, toast and hot chocolate. These days I like – and I know this is odd – popcorn with it. Just eat the popcorn and sip the chocolate. Sometimes I put some in the hot chocolate. It really is good, I promise!
Ashlee Marie
I love chocolate with popcorn so that totally makes sense to me!
Ashae
Are those homemade marshmallows and do you have the recipe for those, because they look like a delicious addition🤔😏
Ashlee Marie
100% homemade https://ashleemarie.com/homemade-marshmallows/
David
Look like a delisss… must try!! Thx for recipe…
Ashlee
I make a few batches a week – def a favorite around here
Lauren
I’m addicted. I will now never make hot chocolate any other way!
Ashlee Petrilli
This is officially my absolute favorite hot chocolate recipe!! And I LOVE hot chocolate! We use almond milk because we don’t drink dairy, but it’s still SOOO good!!!
Ashlee, I watched the video on your 3 fall drinks and I’m curious if there’s a nondairy, no soy alternative to the heavy whipping cream? That pumpkin drink looks incredible and I’m tempt d to mix it with the hot chocolate 😁
Ashlee Marie
I am an all dairy gal, so I honestly don’t really know what non dairy options are out there that are similar to heavy whipping cream – I am so sorry!
Terri
Can you refrigerate a large batch overnight and then reheat in a crockpot for a large party?
Ashlee Marie
totally! just stir as it will separate overnight.
Shanti
Wow! Just Wow! I pin a lot of recipes but the ones that blow my socks off get put in my old fashioned recipe box and this one was PHENOMENAL! And when the hubby loves it too BONUS lol Thank you so much! 🤗😎☕
Ashlee Marie
yay! I’m so glad you AND your hubby like it!
Karin
I like the idea of cooking the sugar, cocoa and water first so it’s smooth. But is 1/4 c. cocoa enough to make in chocolaty? (Is that a word). In other recipes I’ve tried, I’ve used 1/3 c. cocoa and a 12 oz pkg of chocolate chips, but to 8 cups of milk. Just asking for your opinion.
Ashlee Marie
by boiling the water and cocoa the chocolate blooms and gives you a richer flavor. but you can totally add actual chocolate as well. It more chocolatey than packets but not as chocolatey as a french hot chocolate.
Janell Campbell
Made this around Halloween. Was so good and everyone raved! I’m going to bring this to work for a hot cocoa bar. Have you made it ahead of time before? Does it reheat well? Thanks!
Ashlee Marie
yes I do it all the time. It refrigerates and reheats beautifully
Amanda
Love this! I use equal parts cocoa and powdered creamer 🙂 and for the milk, I use half evaporated milk half regular! Delish!
Laura Garrett
Just made this today and really enjoyed it! So much better than packet mixes! Thanks for the recipe!
Ashlee Marie
I’m so glad to hear that! thank you
Pam Collins
This recipe is delicious!
Kateri
I love this recipe! I tried it today and is definitely the best I’ve ever had! How many cups do you think one batch would make? I have young cousins coming over and wondered if I would need to make a double batch??
Ashlee Marie
it makes about 5 cups, so 10 8 oz servings
R
I was skimming Pinterest for a good homemade hot chocolate recipe using ingredients I have around the house. I came across this one and was not disappointed! This was the best hot chocolate. I will never buy packaged hot chocolate again! I added a scoop of peanut butter and let it melt before pouring into my cup and topped it with marshmallows… perfect! Thanks for sharing!!
Ashlee Marie
oh DANG now I need to make another batch and add peanut butter!
Annette Morrison
I rarely want hot chocolate so maybe once a year I use a mix. Today I desperately wanted some hot chocolate, had no mix, and this recipe popped up. It tastes like a liquid brownie!!! Thank you for this recipe!
Ashlee Marie
I am so glad you liked it! It’s def worth making and obviously a favorite of ours!
Jenna Carey
Tonight was the first night I made this hot cocoa. I made it and tasted it and thought hmm. Why does this taste off? I sat in bed and checked the recipe again. Oh my. Forgot the vanilla. Added the vanilla and I cant stop drinking it now! Might have burnt my tongue due to how excited i was and how good it tasted. This is going in the books for a new Christmas tradition. Fresh homemade hot cocoa.
Ashlee Marie
vanilla is a flavor enhancer so it’s amazing what a difference it makes! So glad you enjoyed it!!!
Ava
This is the best hot cholate so good and not watery
Ashlee Marie
so glad you liked it!